Good morning, CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ The Golden State is more than a place. It is the closest thing to paradise in the United States…with great weather, a vibrant and diverse culture, and great innovation. The state’s forefront in our culture has spawned an entire industry of songs telling of the state’s greatness (and some of its emptiness). I once made a list of these and many of you added your additional suggestions. I thought it was a good list of well-known favorites. What I’ve learned over the years is that quirky is good and comprehensive
Hi Glenn - that list is the worst! I can barely look at it. I did note that Sinatra has a song called California, and I did not know that. I also noticed, among many other ridiculous entries, that Cash's Folsom Prison Blues makes the list. A song about a prison that happens to be in California!! Why not throw in Albert King's Laundromat Blues since there are laundromats in California?
A good list (mix, actually) should go for a unifying theme, demonstrating or building the myth about the topic. One can do CA from the Bay Area standpoint of Grateful Dead, hippies, wine country, maybe throw in Big Sur. The East Coast working class myth can be expressed by Springsteen (of course!), John Mellencamp, Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and several others.
But the real CA feel, to me, residing in the LA area, is sand, surf, girls, cars, and innocence. Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, many other surf bands. A surf mix. Which I have done. If one wants to add other Southern California dimensions then throw in Steely Dan, The Doors and the wide area of folk/rock artists that, during the late 60's and early 70's, made their way to the Troubadour club. Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown.
The given list, based on the broadest theme possible - anything at all to do with CA - is, as you have pointed out, very weak tea.
Hi Glenn - that list is the worst! I can barely look at it. I did note that Sinatra has a song called California, and I did not know that. I also noticed, among many other ridiculous entries, that Cash's Folsom Prison Blues makes the list. A song about a prison that happens to be in California!! Why not throw in Albert King's Laundromat Blues since there are laundromats in California?
A good list (mix, actually) should go for a unifying theme, demonstrating or building the myth about the topic. One can do CA from the Bay Area standpoint of Grateful Dead, hippies, wine country, maybe throw in Big Sur. The East Coast working class myth can be expressed by Springsteen (of course!), John Mellencamp, Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and several others.
But the real CA feel, to me, residing in the LA area, is sand, surf, girls, cars, and innocence. Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, many other surf bands. A surf mix. Which I have done. If one wants to add other Southern California dimensions then throw in Steely Dan, The Doors and the wide area of folk/rock artists that, during the late 60's and early 70's, made their way to the Troubadour club. Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown.
The given list, based on the broadest theme possible - anything at all to do with CA - is, as you have pointed out, very weak tea.